Variable-taper casting mold



Jan. 4, 19.66 R. A. scHULTz 3,226,782

' VARIABLE-TAPER CASTING MOLD Filed March `1, 196s HUBERT A. SCHU/ TZ Attorney of molten metal.

United States Patent O 3,226,782 VARIABLE-TAPER CASTNG MOLD j i Robert A. Schultz, Penn Hills Township, Allegheny County, Pa., assigner to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey i j i Filed Mar. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 252,119

8 Claims. (Cl. 22-57.2)

This invention relates to a mold for casting masses of metal, i.e., slabs, billets, etc. and, in particular, to a bottomless continuous-casting mold tapering downwardly, of such construction that the degree of taper may be varied as desired. The construction described and claimed herein is an improvement over that of my Patent No. 3,049,769, in respect to simplicity of construction and ease of alteration in the degree of taper.`

In a preferred embodiment, I provide a mold which is polygonal in horizontal section, composed of a plurality of upstanding panels or side-Wall sections arranged at an angle to each other (in the horizontal plane) with the edges of adjacent panels in spaced relation. Corner members are fitted against the several pairs of adjacentpanel edges so as to complete a closed assembly. The inner faces of the corner members have a vertical groove, preferably of arcuate horizontal section, decreasing in depth from top to bottom. A plurality of such members, having a range of different downward tapers of their interior faces, are provided for each mold corner. The side-wall panels are pivotally connected to a supporting frame disposed horizontally therebelow.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description and explanation which refer to the accompanying drawing illustrating the present preferred embodiment. ln the drawmgs:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical transverse section through the mold of my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partial horizontal section through one corner of the mold; and

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing one of the corner members with a part broken away.

Referring now in detail t-o the drawings, my improved mold, indicated generally at 10, is an erect tubular structure adapted for continuously casting. That is to say, it is mounted vertically on any suitable support below a source When metal is poured thereinto, it starts solidifying externally in the shape of the mold. Conventionally, 4the casting emerging from the open bottom of the mold is initially coniined within guide rolls and is subjected to cooling sprays.` t Eventually it passes between pinch rolls controlling its descent. Thereafter, the casting is cut to length or deflected to a horizontal path for further processing. The foregoing general arrangement is well known and my invention concerns only the construction of mold which will now be described in detail. p

A horizontally disposed structural frame 11 preferably of a shape similar to that of mold 10 in horizontal section, has a plurality of bearing brackets 12 secured thereon by bolts extending through slots in the members cornposing the frame. A side-wall section or panel 13 is pivotally mounted on each bracket 12. The wall sections are thus disposed at an angle to each other with their adjacent edges in spaced relation. The panels are composed of an outer metal plate 14 having bolting flanges 15 extending outwardly thereof and stitfening webs 16 3,226,782 Patented Jan. 4, 1966 extending between flanges. A lining plate 17 of copper or other suitable material overlies the inner face of plate 14 and is secured thereto in any convenient manner.

Corner members 18 are iited against the'edges of adjacent panels 13. Each corner member includes an outer angle 19, bolting flanges 2li extending outwardly therefrom, adapted to abut anges 15, a bottom plate 21 and a liner block 22 fitting in the interior corner of the angle and resting on the inwardly extending edge of the bottom plate which forms a step 21a. Block 22, as shown has on its inner face a groove 23, preferably of arcuate shape in horizontal section, extending from top to bottom and gradually decreasing in depth. It will be apparent that, for any given taper (or rate of change of depth) of groove 23, the panels 13 may be set at the corresponding angle so that, with the corner members in place, a sectional mold with tight joints and a predetermined taper is afforded by bolting the panels and corner members together. For this purpose, bolting flanges 15 and 2t] have slots 24 therein to accommodate bolts 2S.

To alter the degree of taper of the mold as a whole, corner blocks 22 are replaced by others having grooves of a different taper and the wall panels are adjusted to conform to the taper of the new pieces. The taper of groove 23 need not be the same on both sides by may differ as would be necessary in casting a slab of rectangular section instead of a billet or bloom of square section. Both panels 13 and blocks 22 have passages 26 in their lining portions for circulating cooling liuid therethrough by any suitable connections not shown).

It is evident that my invention provides a simple inexpensive mold which can be easily and quickly altered to various tapers over a considerable range, to insure close contact of the surfaces of the casting as it shrinks on progressive cooling and solidification. Combinations of `Wall panels of different widths with corner members of different tapers permit the assembly of molds having a variety of shapes, sizes and tapers.

Although I have disclosed herein the preferred embodiment of my invention, I intend to cover as well any change or modification therein which may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A mold as defined in claim Il, characterized by said panels and said members having bolting flanges extending outwardly and vertically thereof.

2. A mold as deiined in claim 4, characterized by each of said corner members having a groove in its inner face arcuate in horizontal section and varying in depth from top to bottom.

3. A mold as defined in claim 4, characterized by a supporting frame below said panels and means pivotally connecting said panels to said frame. Y

4. A mold of polygonal shape in horizontal section comprising a plurality of -upstanding side-wall panels angularly disposed with their edges in spaced relation and corner members fitted against the edges of adjacent panels at each corner, each of said corner members comprising an outer metal angle and a liner block fitting therein, said angle having a step extending inwardly thereof, said block resting on said step.

5. A mold of polygonal shape in horizontal section comprising a plurality of upstanding sidewall panels angularly disposed with their edges in spaced relation and corner members fitted against the edges of adjacent panels at each corner, each of said corner members comprising an outer metal angle and a liner block tting therein, said angle having means for supporting said block.

6. A mold of polygonal section comprising a plurality of upstanding side-wall panels angularly disposed with their edges in spaced relation, said side-Wall panel sloping downwardly and inwardly, means for adjusting the angle of slope of said side-wall panels, corner members fitted against the edges of adjacent panels at each corner, each of said corner members intersecting the edges of the adjacent panels at right angles.

7. A mold as defined in claim 6 wherein said corner members each include an outer angle and a liner block fitting therein, said liner block having a tapered groove 4 in which the angle of taper corresponds to the angle of said side-wall panels.

S. A mold as defined in claim 7 including lining plates secured to said side-wall panels, said lining plates and liner blocks having passages for a cooling uid.

Reerences Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,183,169 5/1916 Crist 25-118 2,283,450 5/1942 Mitchell et al 22-146 2,991,532 7/1961 Stiles 25-118 3,049,769 8/1962 Schultz 22-57.2

MARCUS U. LYONS, Primary Examiner. 

5. A MOLD OF POLYGONAL SHAPE IN HORIZONTAL SECTION COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF UPSTANDING SIDEWALL PANELS ANGULARLY DISPOSED WITH THEIR EDGES IN SPACED RELATION AND CORNER MEMBERS FITTED AGAINST THE EDGE OF ADJACENT PANELS AT EACH CORNER, EACH OF SAID CORNER MEMBERS COMPRISING AN OUTER CORNER, ANGLE AND A LINER BLOCK FITTING THEREIN, SAID ANGLE HAVING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID BLOCK. 